No escape from the bullies these days, says mother of tragic Flack
CAROLINE FLACK’S mother has said social media companies fail to protect people from abuse and that comments on the platforms had a big impact on her daughter.
The Love Island presenter took her own life at the age of 40 in February last year.
A new Channel 4 documentary is to tell the story of her life and death, as well as her experience of having issues with her mental health.
Speaking ahead of its release, Christine Flack said social media companies “fail to protect anybody”.
She added: “When I was young, if you were bullied at school you could get away from it. You can’t get away from it now because it follows you home, it follows you on your phone.
“Carrie was the worst one. She would look at her phone all the time. It took her over, what was being said on there.
“There could be 30 nice things said, one bad thing said, and that was it.”
Christine said social media companies should take action over abuse online. “They are making so much money,” she said.
“It is not that there’s a lack of money or profits will suffer,” she said. “Someone’s got to take a responsibility somewhere for it.” She said Charlie Russell, the director of the programme, was like a “therapist for a year”.
“He’s made this year bearable because it was someone we could talk to that wasn’t another member of the family,” Christine added.
“There was no other side. We could just say what we liked and we did find the making of this good.”
Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death will have her friends, including singer Olly Murs and television presenter Dermot O’Leary, paying tribute to her.
It also features interviews with her twin sister Jody, who said she often used to try to convince her sister to change her career so she could have an “easier life” away from the public eye.
■ Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death will be broadcast next Wednesday on Channel 4 at 9pm.